26/05/2016
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second practice session the air temperature is 19 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 35 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.
The Mercedes duo, and in particular Lewis Hamilton, set a blistering pace this morning, the Briton only 0.2s off last year's pole time.
However, it was the numerous incidents which grabbed the headlines. Massa crashing at his favourite corner (Ste Devote), Jolyon Palmer crashing on the run from the Swimming Pool, countless mistakes at the Nouveaux Chicane (T10) and again at Ste Devote.
However, the most worrying incident came at the end of the session when a manhole cover, lifted by Nico Rosberg's car, hit the front of Jenson Button who was running behind. Luckily, the cover only damaged the front wing, which in turn caused a puncture, but it could have been much worse.
Needless to say Charlie Whiting has overseen a major sweep of the track since with all manholes being checked. Ironically, this comes on the day that it is revealed that Jules Bianchi's family is taking legal action against the FIA, the F1 Group and Marussia.
Tyres this weekend are ultras - making their race weekend debut - supersoft and soft. It was the purple-banded ultras on which the Mercedes boys posted their times.
The lights go green and, as in FP1, Gutierrez gets things underway. He is followed by Haryanto, Rosberg, Grosjean, Nasr, Vettel and Raikkonen.
Unlike FP1, Gutierrez stays out at the end of his lap and continues on to post a time (18.459). Grosjean goes second, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel and Haryanto.
Nasr gets it wrong at T1, like so many before him and no doubt many more to follow.
Whilst Williams have almost completed repairs to Massa's Williams, there is still much work to do on Palmer's Renault.
Just five minutes in and there are 17 drivers on track, running a mixture of ultras, supers and softs.
The VSC s deployed as a result of some debris just ahead of T10. The cameras cut to Grosjean who suddenly veered to the right on exit from the tunnel, damaging the left hand side of the Haas. "F***, I crash the car," he tells his team, though he is able to drive it back to the pits.
Just before that, Rosberg had posted a 16.694 to go quickest.
As Hamilton becomes the latest to miss T10, Alonso goes fourth on the supers.
No sooner has Sainz posted 16.345 to go quickest, than Hamilton bangs in a 15.489. Shortly after Kvyat goes fourth, ahead of Alonso and Hulkenberg.
Ricciardo goes quickest, the Australian posting 15.015, which beats last year's pole time.
The VSC is deployed again when Haryanto crashes as he exits the tunnel. "I crashed, I crashed," he tells his team.
Replay shows he lost control under braking. He climbs out of the car and inspects the damage, which is considerable.
Verstappen gets up close and very personal with the barriers at T1, the Dutch youngster coming to grief there last year. Nonetheless, he goes third overall with a 15.571.
PBs in all three sectors see Rosberg go third (15.537), as Nasr and Hamilton miss T10 in quick succession.
As Raikkonen spins at Ste Devote, Kvyat is getting might frustrated behind Massa. The Toro Rosso duo currently fifth and sixth.
Hamilton improves but is unable to beat Ricciardo's best, the Briton 0.198s off the pace.
However, the Australian responds by posting purples in all three sectors, crossing the line at 14.607 and increasing the gap to Hamilton to 0.606. Suddenly the Mercedes duo are getting a taste of their own medicine.
We always knew the Red Bull would be strong here, and let's not forget Ricciardo has the benefit - such as it is here - of the upgraded Renault (sorry, Tag Heuer) engine.
"The fastest-ever Monaco race lap, for those asking, was 1:14.439 by Michael Schumacher," confirms Pirelli.
"I crashed and damaged the rear wing," says Vettel following a spin at Mirabeau. "I'm coming back, get a spare ready."
With around forty minutes remaining, as attention once again switches to Sunday, Ricciardo remains quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Rosberg, Verstappen, Kvyat, Sainz, Raikkonen, Perez, Button and Hulkenberg.
An hour in and Palmer finally looks ready to go. Indeed he is... and promptly misses the apex at T10.
His first lap is 19.955, the Briton subsequently improving to 19.059 but remains 22nd.
And just as the Renault mechanics breathe a sigh of relief having got Palmer going, Magnussen heads into the barriers at the final corner, Anthony Noghes. A busy, costly day for the French team.
As the VSC is deployed the Dane is asked if he's OK. "Yes," is the somewhat sheepish response.
Onboard footage shows the Dane understeering into the barriers, the damage not as bad as first supposed.
Vettel kisses the barriers at Ste Devote with his rear wheel, the marshal stepping back as the Armco reverberates. No calls to the pit this time around.
In rapid succession, Raikkonen, Rosberg and Hamilton miss the apex at T10.
No such mistakes from Ricciardo, who as well as being quickest is showing strong long run pace.
A big, long lock-up for Palmer as he approaches Rascasse.
Worth noting that Sainz (47) has completed the most laps, ahead of Kvyat (46), Rosberg, Nasr and Hulkenberg (42) and Perez (41).
Problem in the Mercedes garage as Hamilton's car falls off the jack which damages the nose cone in the process.
The session ends with Ricciardo quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Rosberg, Verstappen, Kvyat, Sainz, Raikkonen, Perez, Vettel and Button.
Hulkenberg is eleventh, ahead of Alonso, Gutierrez, Bottas, Grosjean, Massa, Magnussen, Ericsson, Palmer, Nasr, Haryanto and Wehrlein.
Check out our Thursday gallery, here.